Allow Pregnant Women to bring a Partner to Their Obstetric Appointments

Pregnant women should be allowed to bring their partner with them to all obstetric appointments. The additional stress and worry pregnant women have had to face during Covid has been intensified by being forced to go to OB appointments alone. Each visit is full of stress and worry for every pregnant woman but particularly for those who have high risk pregnancies or have had a loss in the past. These women, myself included, deserve to have a partner with them to offer support as well as to gather information and ask questions of the physician. Partner involvement during the prenatal phase has been linked to better bonding with the newborn once delivered. Partners aren't given the opportunity to hear their child's heartbeat, see them on an ultrasound, or stay abreast of their child's latest developments. This is a major disservice not only to the pregnant women, but their partners and newborns as well.
Partners should be permitted to accompany their pregnant loved ones to all OB appointments following appropriate guidelines as expressed by the CDC. This includes being screened for Covid as well as wearing appropriate PPE, but they should absolutely be allowed to accompany their pregnant loved one to appointments.